CODA HISTORY
Mission:
The Craft Organization Development Association serves organizations
with education and professional development to foster public
appreciation and understanding of craft.
Purpose:
CODA works to strengthen craft organizations producing an annual
national leadership conference to provide opportunities for
professional development, communication, networking and
collaboration among peers; doing research to provide advocacy tools
and resources; hosting peer group discussion forums, and list serves
on the CODA website, as well as increasing visibility and public
education.
CODA’s annual conference attracts the leading professionals in the
craft field, including nonprofit craft organizations, media specific
organizations, schools, universities and craft centers, museums,
galleries, craft marketing cooperatives, community and economic
development agencies, state and public agencies, state arts
commissions, craft, art and gift show promoters, trade associations,
businesses, and associations providing services to the field.
This national leadership conference provides opportunities for
professional development and education, new ideas and resources,
information and research, identifying and networking with peers,
interactive panel discussions, building collaborations and new
programs, experiencing the local craft/art scene, overview of
national and state trends, advocacy and support for issues important
to the crafts field. This is a rare opportunity to gain valuable
insights into the newest ideas and projects created by some of the
most forward thinking organizations devoted to craft. Please join us
and share your wisdom and experiences with your peers.
CODA HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS
1986
CODA met for the first time in 1986 as a peer session during an
American Craft Council national conference in Oakland, California.
The networking and information shared proved to be invaluable and
informal gatherings were planned during other craft events over the
next 3 years.
1989
Fran Redmon, Program Director of the Kentucky Craft Marketing
Program, and Rita Steinberg, Executive Director of the Kentucky Art
and Craft Foundation (now the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft),
took the initiative to procure a grant from the Kentucky Arts
Council to produce the first professional CODA Conference in
Louisville, Kentucky with Dr. Craig Dreeszen, Ph.D. facilitating.
This meeting was so productive participants decided it needed to be
an annual event. A steering committee was elected to plan future
conferences.
1990
Conference in Deer Isle, Maine hosted by the Maine Crafts
Association and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts; by-laws were
adopted and annual dues initiated. It was at this meeting that the
Year of American Craft 1993 became the focus for the next 4 years,
successfully bringing national attention to the work of the hand,
while strengthening and uniting the organization.
1992
Professionally presented management and administration workshops
become an integral part of the annual conference after the very
educational and motivating meeting in Columbus, Ohio hosted by the
Ohio designer Craftsmen.
1993
Year of American Craft 1993 celebration, conference held in
Morristown, New Jersey, hosted by Peters Valley Craftsmen. Hortense
Green was honored for developing Hands Across America and the Year
of American Craft.
1994
Partner with American Craft Council Southeast Annual Conference held
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the Sawtooth Center for Visual
Art. This conference demonstrated the very different needs of
administrators & artists.
1998
It was during the 1998 Boston, Massachusetts conference hosted by
George Little Management, LLC that The CODA Survey: The Impact of
Crafts on the National Economy began. Committees were formed,
pledges for funding were made, and HandMade In America was
contracted to manage the project.
2000
The conference was held at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where two new components were added: the
Three Minutes of Fame Presentation, an opportunity for attendees to
share highlights of their organization’s most innovative programs
and facilities with colleagues (becoming a favorite
session), and the 5 standing peer group breakout sessions.
Guilds & Membership Organizations
Schools & Education Centers/Programs
Exhibition Presenters/Museums/Galleries
Fairs, Festivals & Shows
Service Groups and Public Agencies
2001
Crafts are Big Business! The direct impact of sales of handmade
crafts on the national economy is $14 billion, substantiated by
The CODA Survey: The Impact of Crafts on the National Economy.
The results of this landmark study were announced to over 100
leaders of the craft industry, at the 2001 conference in Asheville,
North Carolina hosted by HandMade in America, providing a
much-needed tool for craftspeople, craft organizations, and
businesses, at a time when many state departments of heritage,
tourism and economic development are recognizing the potential in
supporting craft-related programs. The Executive Summary is
available on the CODA website along with breakout studies for 13
states. Joan Mondale, former first lady was Keynote speaker.
PHOTO: Carol Ross recognizing Mondale for her role in bringing
national recognition to the work of the hand.
The growth of membership and administration prompted hiring Linda
Van Trump as the first managing director, providing better access,
communications and continuity by establishing a permanent address in
North Central Arkansas.
2002
The Conference was held at the Southwest School of Art & Craft in
San Antonio, Texas; giving attendees the opportunity to witness
first-hand how restorations of the historic site and the arts/crafts
role in community development have been instrumental to the
revitalization of this culturally diverse urban community.
CODA began its strategic planning process at the 2002 conference
with an open session, exploring what “Phase II” of “articulating and
validating” the crafts field would be. Phase I was producing The
CODA Survey: The Impact of Crafts on the National Economy. This
session was followed by another open planning session in October
2002 during the SOFA EXPO in Chicago, Illinois.
2003
Leaders of CODA met at the April 2003 annual conference in
Pittsburgh, PA with Dr. Craig Dreeszen, Ph. D. facilitating to
complete the strategic planning process. The information gathered at
three planning meetings was used to create a formal strategic plan
for CODA. After nearly seventeen years as an informal organization
serving the information, networking and advocacy interests of craft
organizations, Articles of Association and new Bylaws were adopted
along with replacing “Organization Directors” with “Organization
Development” in the name to underscore that the core constituents of
CODA are the nation's craft organizations. CODA serves these
organizations through the education and professional development of
the directors and also board members and program staff.
CODA planning also refined the mission to emphasize that CODA works
to ultimately foster public awareness and understanding of craft.
This is achieved through its work to strengthen craft organizations
and to do research, public education and advocacy.
2004
The CODA Conference was hosted by the Louisiana Artworks a project
of the Arts Council of New Orleans and marked a new beginning for
CODA as an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. In the past CODA
administration had been handled by the conference host for that
year. This was a milestone for CODA that will enable it to produce
projects needed by the crafts field and grow to its full potential.
The support and interest from the crafts industry have made CODA a
strong and vital national organization, with an exciting future,
having national conferences planned several years in advance.
CODA took another major leap this year with the launch of a website,
which proved to be the best way to disseminate and archive news,
information, resources, opportunities, advocacy tools and
communications with on-line discussion forums and list serves.
2005
“Building Communities: Partnerships in Craft” conference hosted by
Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea,
Kentucky School of Craft (in Hindman), City of Berea and City of
Hindman, focusing on new issues in craft education and cultural
economic development. Kentucky’s support of craft and resources
brings a new level of programming and recognition to the conference.
2006
Conference held in Portland, Oregon hosted by Contemporary Crafts
Museum & Gallery, and Oregon College of Art and Craft; “Create
Value/Provoke Change: The Future of Craft,” one of CODA’s most
provocative conferences, sparking conversations on redefining craft
and young professionals.
The Special Recognition Award presented to Carol Sedestrom Ross and
George Little Management, LLC for long-term dedication to the
development of and service to the crafts field began a new tradition
during the annual conference. CODA is among the many organizations
and individuals who have benefited from her vast expertise and the
support of George Little Management, LLC.
2007
International leadership conference held in scenic Calgary, Alberta,
Canada as part of Canadian “Craft Year 2007”, a nation-wide festival
of professional craft with hundreds of events. CODA will explore the
vibrant, growing inter-relationship of American and Canadian craft
practice, hosted by the Alberta Craft Council at the Alberta College
of Art and Design. The theme of this year’s conference, “Craft Has
No Boundaries,” will provoke discussions on the future of craft and
will include topics such as Young Professionals in Craft Culture,
Cross Border Partnerships, Canadian Connections, new directions in
conventional and unconventional media promotions and communications,
investigating issues of global competition and how the aspect of
identity (ideas, cultural distinctiveness and innovation) creates
the distinguishing edge.
The Craft Organization Development Association Award for Leadership,
Creative Thinking and Outstanding Service was presented to Fran
Redmon, Program Director of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program (a
division of the Kentucky Arts Council an agency in the Commerce
Cabinet) who has made a significant impact on the crafts field.
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